Believe it or not, someone managed to put the words "human" and "centipede" next to each other more than 80 years before the infamous surgery horror film. This human centipede wasn't nearly as disgusting, but it was a torture device, albeit a mild one designed for hazing rituals.»2/04/12 2:30pm 2/04/12 2:30pm

Back in the day, fraternal organizations like the Freemasons and Woodmen of the World would haze new members in bizarre rituals using electric carpets and exploding furniture. Fantagraphics' upcoming book, Burlesque Paraphernalia, reprints a catalog of these sadistic inventions. »6/28/10 9:30am 6/28/10 9:30am